Simply put, Tom Waits is a national treasure.  He has graced us with some of the best songs ever written, is a legendary performer, and has been a storied guest on the late night TV circuit for four decads.  We’ve had coffee with he and his friends, spent New Years Eve with him (sure, with a thousand others at the Orpheum in San Francisco on 12/31/90) and caught him live on multiple occasions.  We have yet to feel under-entertained by Waits.

Such was the case last night when Waits appeared on one of the last Late Shows with David Letterman.  Waits performed a new wistful homage to Letterman entitled Take One Last Look (lyrics at bottom).  Waits introduced the new song by saying: “This one’s for you, Dave.”

As usual with Letterman, Waits also gave his now-standard interview with Letterman before performing.  Check out both below.  Très charmant.  Waits rarely performs live these days, last appearing two years ago at Neil Young’s Bridge School Concert.  If you get a chance to catch him, don’t miss it.

We will next post a refreshed and updated compendium of Waits other historic late night performances and interviews.  There goes your Friday.

“Let’s watch the sun come up in another town
Try our luck a little further down
Leave the cards on the table
Leave the bread on the plate
Put your hand on the gear-shift
put your foot off the brake.

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look

Our bed was something that the wind can carry
The arrow points away across the waiting prairie
This car looks like it could give us a good run
Our choice to leave was a good one.

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh take one last place at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look

Let’s look forward to the lights that are new
The world is a ribbon of road for you
All towns have churches and tire shops
They put up speed limit signs in the eye of the cops

I love to see the wind in your hair
All we ever need, we can get anywhere

And take one last look at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look
Oh take one last place at the place that you are leaving
Take one last look”